" It’s important
that, from time to time, we get in touch with our inner child.
I recently met up with mine in an unlikely
place — in Riga, Latvia. My visit to Riga featured a chance to work
with young Latvian orphans who knew nothing about art or artists. I
was enchanted by the passion and purity of their openness to art. As
I watched them paint, I thought to myself — this is what it’s all
about.
Later, I set up my easel in the cobblestone
square facing the ancient “Dome Cathedral” and began to paint. It
was a blue-sky day with wispy clouds dancing over the copper dome. I
was joined by eager passersby who chatted as I painted.
I realized then that I bring the same passion
to my plein air painting that the Latvian orphans showed me. When I
worked on The Dome Cathedral, Riga, Latvia I truly reconnected with
my inner child."
- Thomas Kinkade
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Points of Interest:
1. Riga, officially founded in 1201, is
the capital of the Republic of Latvia and the geographical center of the
Baltic States. The city's cross-roads location between Western Europe and
huge Eastern markets has made Riga very attractive for both tourism and
business activities. 2. The Dome Cathedral is
considered the largest cathedral in the Baltics. It was founded on St
Jacob's Day in 1211 by Latvia's Teutonic conquerors under the bishop Albert
von Buxhoeveden, who became its first bishop. Part of the cathedral used to
be a monastery and now houses the Riga Museum of History and Navigation.
3. In the past centuries, the Dome Cathedral has been
destroyed and rebuilt many times, so presently it is a composition of
different architectural styles. It measures 187 x 43m, with walls two meters
thick.
4. One of the highlights of the Dome Cathedral is the
famous organ that was built by the company E. F.Walcker & Sons in 1882-83 -
it was inaugurated on January 31, 1884. At that time it was the biggest
organ in the world. The organ has 4 manual keyboards and a pedalboard. It
plays 116 voices, 124 stops, 144 ranks, and 6718 pipes. It includes 18
combinations and General Crescendo. The organ features wooden carvings from
17-18th centuries.
5. Thom went to the Dome Cathedral in Riga, Latvia in
support of Bridge Builder's International. He met the head, Chuck Kelley,
through his church and was drawn to make this visit, which lead him to
create this wonderful painting.
Dome Cathedral, Riga, Latvia will be be offered as an 18x24
image. To learn more about Dome Cathedral, contact your Art of the South Consultant
and they will be happy to help you.
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